Was Racism The Reason?

#1
PMC2726

PMC2726

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#1
I just read an article in Knoxnews about Phil Simms's relationship with Chris and Matt. Someone posted a comment that the reason Chris didn't come to UT was because he felt there was a racial division on the team. My understanding is that Chris didn't come to UT because Casey Clausen got here in time for spring practice and he was afraid of the competition.

Not that it matters anymore, but anyone remember what happened? Just curious. Thanks.:hi:
 
#2
#2
I wasn't there so and none of us were so any response will be pure opinion, But I do find it hard to believe that a Racial divide existed on a College Football team to the point that it prevented a player from wanting to play for a particular team. In this decade I would be really surprised if that was the case.
 
#3
#3
Honestly I think Chris Simms picked Texas over UT because the marijuana in Texas is cheaper and easier to find.
 
#6
#6
He probably picked Texas over the real UT was the fact that he heard that Fulmer was getting fired any year now and Cut going elsewhere.
 
#8
#8
" So Ricky you get da bag and ill bring the cigarellos cool? Just like we used to do in college baby"
 

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#11
#11
Years ago I heard that racism was the reason. I knew a few managers on the football team, one of them being John Chavis's son. What I heard was that Simms came in for a few visits, and that when he saw the football sitting down to eat, the whites and blacks did not sit with each other or interact with each other. There was also supposedly some racial motivated taunting and fights going on the football field at the time too, which almost always ended up being blacks vs whites. One of the fights I was told about had something to do with Eric Parker making a huge play and then going up to the white defender and saying, "you're no match for me cause you're white" or something to that affect, which resulted in a near brawl. I wasn't there and saw none of this, but my source was extremely reliable. TIFWIW
 
#12
#12
davethevol said:
Years ago I heard that racism was the reason. I knew a few managers on the football team, one of them being John Chavis's son. What I heard was that Simms came in for a few visits, and that when he saw the football sitting down to eat, the whites and blacks did not sit with each other or interact with each other. There was also supposedly some racial motivated taunting and fights going on the football field at the time too, which almost always ended up being blacks vs whites. One of the fights I was told about had something to do with Eric Parker making a huge play and then going up to the white defender and saying, "you're no match for me cause you're white" or something to that affect, which resulted in a near brawl. I wasn't there and saw none of this, but my source was extremely reliable. TIFWIW
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:popcorn:
 
#14
#14
davethevol said:
Years ago I heard that racism was the reason. I knew a few managers on the football team, one of them being John Chavis's son. What I heard was that Simms came in for a few visits, and that when he saw the football sitting down to eat, the whites and blacks did not sit with each other or interact with each other. There was also supposedly some racial motivated taunting and fights going on the football field at the time too, which almost always ended up being blacks vs whites. One of the fights I was told about had something to do with Eric Parker making a huge play and then going up to the white defender and saying, "you're no match for me cause you're white" or something to that affect, which resulted in a near brawl. I wasn't there and saw none of this, but my source was extremely reliable. TIFWIW
Click to expand...

You have a lot of that on a lot of teams and it wouldn't surprise me at all, but I don't think that would have driven him to Texas.

I can't buy the story on Eric Parker because his mother is white, and I remember him being VERY sensitive to racial issues because of that.

I know that in the late 90s there was a little bit of division, but not to the extent that is refrenced here. Fulmer and Chavis were big on trying to break down barriers, but ultimately didn't push things like that.
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#15
#15
DeerPark12 said:
You have a lot of that on a lot of teams and it wouldn't surprise me at all, but I don't think that would have driven him to Texas.

I can't buy the story on Eric Parker because his mother is white, and I remember him being VERY sensitive to racial issues because of that.

I know that in the late 90s there was a little bit of division, but not to the extent that is refrenced here. Fulmer and Chavis were big on trying to break down barriers, but ultimately didn't push things like that.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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I actually met Eric a few times, and he was as nice as could be. But, I heard crazy things about the program that at the time I didn't believe and found out later much of it to be true, so nothing really surprises me anymore.
 
#16
#16
VOLS INC. said:
I wasn't there so and none of us were so any response will be pure opinion, But I do find it hard to believe that a Racial divide existed on a College Football team to the point that it prevented a player from wanting to play for a particular team. In this decade I would be really surprised if that was the case.
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Maybe....maybe not.....how many of the white football players were at Bar Knoxville on July 9th? Just something to think about.
 
#19
#19
ric1958 said:
Maybe....maybe not.....how many of the white football players were at Bar Knoxville on July 9th? Just something to think about.
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No I get that black players usually hang out with black players and whites with whites but I just doubt that there was this Racial Divide in the Locker room to the point that an outsider observing the team interaction would think that they stuck in the 1960's.
 
#20
#20
No, that was just one of a long line of hit pieces designed to put UT "back in their place".

Around that same time you had a turd grad writing articles about linda bensel myers or whoever that insane woman was. Every time it would die down he would pen another hit piece.

There were many hit pieces written on UT during that time. Most had no truth to them, or just enough to make others think it might be true, but this one was designed to hurt UT recruiting.
 
#21
#21
i thought he said he always wanted to be a texas longhorn and thats why he changed his mind
 
#22
#22
VOLS INC. said:
I wasn't there so and none of us were so any response will be pure opinion, But I do find it hard to believe that a Racial divide existed on a College Football team to the point that it prevented a player from wanting to play for a particular team. In this decade I would be really surprised if that was the case.
Click to expand...

I'd like to doubt that too but have a vague memory of a player during the PF years saying something about Black players keeping to themselves and Whites doing the same. I don't recall who said it or why and it didn't get much ink to begin with. My doubt is in doubt because of history in general and the readiness I've seen on forums and in person for mainstream fans to viciously turn on a Black players who stumbles. Then there's the looks I've observed directed at Blacks in surrounding areas like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Certainly this would encourage those players to hang together for perceived safety reasons. So no surprise if this claim was true.

That being said, let's take pride in DD's approach is seemingly putting that team splitting muck out of business with his attitude towards players Black, White, purple or whatever, his VFL concept and in general backing it up with action. Huh? YES SIR. If you read what players are saying about the man, he's about action and not lip service. I think the most recent I read was Gerald Jones comments about DD's concern for his players. Not the first such comments. If DD stays and does decently well, the UT will indeed be the Pride of the Southland in more than just a name for a band. So let's focus on THAT guys.
 
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#24
#24
ric1958 said:
Maybe....maybe not.....how many of the white football players were at Bar Knoxville on July 9th? Just something to think about.
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You cannot legislate total integration. Driven through the hood lately? Or through a farming community? We can work together, play together, but ultimately we choose our own friends and associates. Those are personal choices. Denying cultural differences is ridiculous.
 
#25
#25
JohnWardForever said:
You cannot legislate total integration. Driven through the hood lately? Or through a farming community? We can work together, play together, but ultimately we choose our own friends and associates. Those are personal choices. Denying cultural differences is ridiculous.
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A very sensible post.

Speaking for myself, my post was man to point out that off field social realities in the form of historical bias was/is the driving force to Black players sticking together. In a nutshell the atmosphere of "off field we don't want you around" is the driving force.

In and of itself, your post's statements, in my view at lest, have no faults. They just don't address the real dynamics behind why the players in question didn't congregate with their pale teammates after games and practices. It has far less to do with friend choices than an atmosphere of you're not welcome and that atmosphere extends into surrounding communities as well. I suppose one must live it to truly understand it.
 
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